Russ Patterson

The daily stand-up is a short meeting, but it’s the heartbeat of a development team.
Done right, it keeps everyone aligned, problems visible, and progress flowing.
Done wrong, it turns into a lifeless status readout.

Here’s how I run stand-ups that actually matter.

Keep It Tight and Purposeful

Fifteen minutes max. Everyone quickly covers:

  1. What they accomplished yesterday
  2. What they plan to do today
  3. Any blockers in their way

With the right cadence, six people can finish in under ten minutes.
The goal isn’t ceremony—it’s keeping the team direction agile and clear.

Solve Problems in Real Time

A stand-up isn’t just for reporting; it’s for unblocking.
When an issue comes up, the team is already together—five focused minutes can solve what would otherwise take days of back-and-forth.
Don’t be afraid to use the time to collaborate.
That’s how great teams operate: thinking together, solving together.

The Built-In Emergency Response

Another huge benefit: when something breaks—production, builds, payments—you already have a daily gathering point.
No scrambling to find everyone for an emergency meeting; the mechanism is already in place.
If it’s serious, you just pivot from stand-up straight into “let’s fix this together.”

The Manager’s Lens

Stand-ups also give leaders real-time visibility into progress and flow.
I like to ground updates in tickets—what got done yesterday, what’s next today.
Tasks should be small enough to move daily. That rhythm shows who’s making steady progress and where help might be needed.

If someone’s struggling or disengaged, this is how you catch it early—through questions and curiosity, not surprise status-email demands.
It’s proactive management instead of punitive oversight.

Building a High-Performance Culture

My core management philosophy is simple:

Help people do the best work of their careers.

When people feel supported, appreciated, and part of a team that communicates and wins together, they naturally do their best work.
Daily stand-ups are one of the most reliable ways to make that happen.
They promote teamwork, shared context, and a sense that we’re in this together.

It’s not a hierarchical ritual—it’s a daily jam session.
Everyone has a voice, everyone’s progress matters, and everyone leaves a little clearer and faster than before.

In short:
Keep it short, solve together, listen deeply, and build trust daily.
That’s how a simple 15-minute meeting turns into the engine of a high-performing team.